Controllable Pyridine N-Oxidation–Nucleophilic Dechlorination Process for Enhanced Dechlorination of Chloropyridines: The Cooperation of HCO4– and HO2–

Dechlorination of chloropyridines can eliminate their detrimental environmental effects. However, traditional dechlorination technology cannot efficiently break the C-Cl bond of chloropyridines, which is restricted by the uncontrollable nonselective species. Hence, we propose the carbonate species-activated hydrogen peroxide (carbonate species/H₂O₂) process wherein the selective oxidant (peroxymonocarbonate ion, HCO₄^-) and selective reductant (hydroperoxide anion, HO₂^-) controllably coexist by manipulation of reaction pH. Taking 2-chloropyridine (Cl-Py) as an example, HCO₄^- first induces Cl-Py into pyridine N-oxidation intermediates, which then suffer from the nucleophilic dechlorination by HO₂^-. The obtained dechlorination efficiencies in the carbonate species/H₂O₂ process (32.5-84.5%) based on the cooperation of HCO₄^- and HO₂^- are significantly higher than those in the HO₂^--mediated sodium hydroxide/hydrogen peroxide process (0-43.8%). Theoretical calculations confirm that pyridine N-oxidation of Cl-Py can effectively lower the energy barrier of the dechlorination process. Moreover, the carbonate species/H₂O₂ process exhibits superior anti-interference performance and low electric energy consumption. Furthermore, Cl-Py is completely detoxified via the carbonate species/H₂O₂ process. More importantly, the carbonate species/H₂O₂ process is applicable for efficient dehalogenation of halogenated pyridines and pyrazines. This work offers a simple and useful strategy to enhance the dehalogenation efficiency of halogenated organics and sheds new insights into the application of the carbonate species/H₂O₂ process in practical environmental remediation.